Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 43:1-7

Introduction

Isaiah 43:1-7 is a prophecy of hope. Because of God's grace, he will rescue his people out of captivity and, having never given up on them, continue to shape and form them into his image.

Context: Captivity & Judgment

The text immediately preceding this passage is crucial to understanding the context. Some will treat the two passages as one (Is 42:10 and 43:1-7) because 43 is a response to those words of judgment and the captivity that Isaiah alludes to. J. Alec Motyer shares:

Israel has been revealed as blind (42:19), inattentive (42:20), falling short of the Lord’s plan (42:21), defeated (42:2), sinfully disobedient (42:24), spiritually uncomprehending and insensitive…

1. How does understanding the judgment and captivity described in Isaiah 42 shape our understanding of God’s grace in Isaiah 43?

2. How does the depiction of grace in Isaiah 43 challenge the common notion of the Old Testament merely as a covenant of law?

3. What does the imagery of God as a “kinsman redeemer” teach us about His relationship with His people and His willingness to intervene on their behalf?

4. How does the statement “you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1) redefine Israel’s identity, even in the midst of failure and exile?

5. In Isaiah 43:2, God promises to be with…